Half of secondary pupils expected to miss out on their first choice

Families are facing a fresh school places crisis as up to half of secondary pupils are expected to miss out on their first choice in some areas.

Head teachers are facing an escalating places crisis filtering through from primaries which has been caused by a baby boom fuelled by migration.

Ministers have known about the impending problem for many years but councils estimate tens of thousands of extra secondary places will still be needed by 2020.

New figures suggest a rising numbers of secondary schools are struggling to keep up with demand. Almost half of secondary schools in England are now oversubscribed, and the numbers are increasing.

At least 28 secondary schools in England are now so in demand that children will only get in on proximity grounds if they live within a kilometre of the site.

At least 28 secondary schools in England are now so in demand that children will only get in on proximity grounds if they live within a kilometre of the site.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "The Government doubled the funding for school places to £5 billion in the last parliament, which has helped create half a million new school places. A further £7 billion has already been committed to create even more places over the next six years."